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I've recorded a couple of them.One's o.k ish the other one's not so good.I've only got a rubbish video camera that records for a maximum of three minutes so I kind of feel the tension when I'm recording.It feels more like a live performance than I'm used to.I set the recording equipment running and then I have to perform.I know I can have another go but I'm always conscious it's there especially towards the end when the tension gets worse and the only thing going through my head is 'Don't make a mistake Tim'.Having to perform under a tiny bit of pressure is probably a good thing to learn though.My third piece is nearly in memory, probably about a month off being recordable.

All systems go. I was a bit concerned about getting my audio files into a video streaming format. I had a go at this today with Op 102 no 6. As it turns out, movie maker was already loaded on my operating system and it wasn't so much to figure out. I hope we're not being scored for video creativeness though, ... it's quite lame. But otherwise I'm happy it's working and ready to be ready at any time.

I still have a ways to go, but I should have more time to spend on it now that SuperBowl and Mardi Gras are done. I can get through it, but not very fast, and definitely not evenly. I'm going to start seriously working on it again after I get my recital piece recorded this week (I hope). But it'll happen. Hopefully I'll get it to Presto. If not, I will settle for something close

I recorded two versions, I have two differing piano sounds on my little Digital. When I did `em, thought they were rubbish. But on relistening, I reckon it`s as good as I`ll ever get . . .So I`ll have to think about the vid! Can I mime to that ha ha (Joe King)

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"I'm playing all the right notes � but not necessarily in the right order." Eric Morecambe

67-2 is sort-of finished but for expression - still experimenting. Fascinating listening to and watching the pros play. There’s a staggering variety of interpretation most of which is new to me and needs to be unravelled. A teacher would help here. S/he’d say “do this” or “do that” . OTOH without a teacher one is forced to listen critically so I see that as a beneficial trade-off. I’m trying to resist being plagiaristic - there are temptations although a lot of it is out of reach technically.

Still quite a bit more to do on 38-1. On the face of it it’s a less difficult piece but the chord voicings while simple are erratic so this is making heavier work for memorising and particularly fingering.

I think we`ve all been challenged here in some way or another. For my own part, I`m having to read as I play; I don`t think I`d be able to manage without the music as a prompt. . . that`s a tad unusual for me

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"I'm playing all the right notes � but not necessarily in the right order." Eric Morecambe

Progress report: not anywhere close to recording. I put it up for a week and started again yesterday. The tricky passage is coming along nicely with the break from it (sometimes that works...don't know why). I'll be focusing on the flow of the whole piece. Should be presentable by end of March for sure.

My pieces are far from recordable. Guess I should have only taken on one piece not two. My hope is to be able to play as opposed to stumble through each. (So, not expecting to play them 'well' as that would be aiming too high given the time-line). One problem will be the red dot. it is one thing for me to play through without recording, but with the red dot, I will have to know the piece even better just to be able to play. I'm a bit concerned that I won't be able to pull it off.

Just keep at them Valencia, you will get there. As for the red dot, Have you tried recording a session, so like play a few of your favourite pieces, then try the one your wanting to record, I find that helps

It sounds like we are all having some difficulties/tricky bits, in one way or another, I see it that overcomming these is a great acheivement and a reward in itself for our efforts, keep up the good work folks And no need to worry over time, we will be ready when we are all ready, we're in this together

Now I’ve divided my piece into four sections, and I practice each one separately. I think I’m getting better, but I’m not able to record it yet. Nevertheless I’d like to start recording in early March.

I have the notes and the dynamics down. I'm unsure about tempo, but I don't think it sounds bad at my current slow-ish tempo. My big challenge is voicing the melody so it sings out especially above the rest of the RH chords (playing the LH softer is going OK, but it's hard for me to have varied dynamics between the fingers of one hand). I haven't been practicing this for a while, feeling like I had reached a plateau. Time to bring it out again, and start recording, to get an honest listen to how I'm doing with the melody.

Generally I don't think we should worry too much about tempo. I have listened to quite a few performances over the years, and I'm not always impressed the most by the virtuouses being able to play fastest. Mendelssohn's pieces (like pieces by Chopin and other composers) contain lots of fine details that become barely audible when played too fast. This is very obvious in music by e.g. Mozart and Haydn where phrasing is very important. I have heard lots of Haydn-sonatas played at high speed. I'm impressed by the abilities of the performers, but still disappointed because all the delicate detail is gone. This is an issue in the SWWs too. I think all of us should try to develop our strongest sides and practice our pieces accordingly. High speed isn't necessarily what we all should aim for. Rather try to make the pieces sound nice.

Generally I don't think we should worry too much about tempo...I think all of us should try to develop our strongest sides and practice our pieces accordingly. High speed isn't necessarily what we all should aim for. Rather try to make the pieces sound nice.

A voice of musical reason. Thank you Ganddalf...that frees us all to make the best music we can, worrying less about speed and more about expression. Our own enjoyment of practicing and the pleasure of the listeners we hope to share with should be enhanced with this vision of our SWW. Sometimes the quest for faster tempo frustrates me and makes the piece something I want to just lay aside.

I think it would be a shame if, despite everyone's efforts to deliver a complete set of 'songs without words' for the recital, this did not happen. And I can't help feeling that if we turned our attention to pieces outside the series this might distract us and make it less likely that we'd complete the series -though I've nothing against doing pieces outside the series per se.

My pieces are far from recordable. Guess I should have only taken on one piece not two. My hope is to be able to play as opposed to stumble through each. (So, not expecting to play them 'well' as that would be aiming too high given the time-line). One problem will be the red dot. it is one thing for me to play through without recording, but with the red dot, I will have to know the piece even better just to be able to play. I'm a bit concerned that I won't be able to pull it off.

Just keep at them Valencia, you will get there. As for the red dot, Have you tried recording a session, so like play a few of your favourite pieces, then try the one your wanting to record, I find that helps

Thanks wayne. Maybe I'll try some recording soon even if the pieces aren't put together yet. just to try to get used to it. i hope those who play well in this recital will be forgiving of those of us who just get through our pieces.

My pieces are far from recordable. Guess I should have only taken on one piece not two. My hope is to be able to play as opposed to stumble through each. (So, not expecting to play them 'well' as that would be aiming too high given the time-line). One problem will be the red dot. it is one thing for me to play through without recording, but with the red dot, I will have to know the piece even better just to be able to play. I'm a bit concerned that I won't be able to pull it off.

Just keep at them Valencia, you will get there. As for the red dot, Have you tried recording a session, so like play a few of your favourite pieces, then try the one your wanting to record, I find that helps

Thanks wayne. Maybe I'll try some recording soon even if the pieces aren't put together yet. just to try to get used to it. i hope those who play well in this recital will be forgiving of those of us who just get through our pieces.

Recording as you go is helpful for getting used to doing it, but it also can be good to help evaluate your playing and make adjustments. You may be doing things that you might not even realize until you hear yourself. Just be forgiving and even in the recording process don't be afraid to stop and fix something. Even the pros piece together an entire piece measure by measure, taken the best take out of 8 or so. I don't recommend this, of course, but knowing that somehow makes it feel OK if you can't play through the entire piece without a mistake.

Recording isn't so bad..it's listening to the recording that is so hard. Self critique is sure tough on the confidence. BUT a good suggestion to record over and over as we develop a piece to make it more objective.

Btw. Wayne, I think you should be sharp on us soon and declare offical date for the recital. Without deadline I am not able to take it serious. I am still not able to "play" (push correct keys in correct order) the whole piece so be sharp only lightly and give some fair date, please In the middle between ABF recitals?